What is known about the Apostle Paul's family?
Upvote:2
I've come late to this question but I will offer a new perspective on Paul's parentage. Acts 23:6 does not use the term "Pharisee of Pharisees" but specifically "the son/child (υἱὸς) of a Pharisee." A few typical translations:
- KJV: I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee
- RSV: I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees
- NIV: I am a Pharisee, descended from Pharisees
- YLT I am a Pharisee -- son of a Pharisee
I see no reason to presume this means something like "best of the best." In context - trying to gain sympathy from the Pharisees on the council as opposed to the Sadducees - it is more likely that he is displaying his ancestral credentials, not boasting that is a really good Pharisee. (But he is also emphasizing his affinity with the Pharisees against the Sadducees.) A similar construction is used in Phil. 3:5 when Paul says he is "a Hebrew born of Hebrews," in other words not a recent convert. At the same time we should be aware that the quote from Paul about his being a "son of a Pharisee" is not his own writing but a report by Luke, probably heard at second-hand.
So, if Acts is accurate in quoting Paul as saying "I am a Pharisee, a son of a Pharisee," we can understand that this is a statement about his family's tradition. He is not a newcomer to the movement, but he has inherited the tradition from his family as well as his teachers.
Upvote:4
Any speculation about Paul's wife (or lack thereof) is just that, speculation. Unless there is some authoritative extra Biblical source, we know only that he is, at the time of his writing of 1 Corinthians, unmarried and the inference is that he has never been married (But each man has his own gift from God. 1 Cor. 7:7).
As for 'Pharisee of the Pharisees', it is emphasizing that he is/was the "best of the best" as can be seen in the context. Paul did not brag but did not exhibit false modesty either.
Finally, pertaining to his Roman citizenship, one could be born a citizen, purchase his citizenship or earn his citizenship through some service to Rome. Paul was born a citizen because his father was a citizen. The speculation is that his father performed some service for Rome but that is only speculation.
More post
- 📝 What is the difference between "Elder led" and "Elder ruled"?
- 📝 Apologetic on suffering using a reference to Jesus
- 📝 did GOD predestinate all of us?
- 📝 Zealot hypothesis for empty tomb
- 📝 According to Preterism has Jesus already delivered the kingdom to God?
- 📝 What is the Immaculate Conception?
- 📝 Origin of La Madonna Del Gatto
- 📝 Is the definition of "sin" subjective? Of whom's morals is it based on?
- 📝 What reason did a group of Christians have that the world would end on Oct 7, 2015?
- 📝 What denominations don't believe in fasting? And Why?
- 📝 Is Panentheism a heresy?
- 📝 Was there a special Sabbath in addition to Passover when Jesus was crucified?
- 📝 How do Premillennialists explain Matthew 25:31-46?
- 📝 Does the seal of confession extend to bystanders?
- 📝 Did Casting Crowns ever say why they chose their name?
- 📝 Why did the Lord want to kill Moses on the latter's way back to Egypt?
- 📝 What is a prophet in Catholicism?
- 📝 Regarding women participation in extraordinary ministry (Roman-Catholic Church)
- 📝 Is there any evidence for the claim that the Catholic church suppressed translation of Scripture?
- 📝 Outdoor wedding for Catholics
- 📝 Do any Christian denominations believe God can annihilate his creation?
- 📝 Info about living in the temple quarters?
- 📝 From a Roman Catholic point of view, what should a Protestant chaplain do for a dying Catholic?
- 📝 Is money the root of 'all' evil or 'some' evil?
- 📝 Would a JW be disfellowshipped if they join a military (and are unrepentant about it)?
- 📝 Does the Eastern Orthodox Church consider belief in the existence of Jesus' soul before the incarnation a heresy?
- 📝 What is the basis for calling God's love "reckless"?
- 📝 Being an endtime prophecy, how does Genesis 49:10 affect Christians since one side of it in ''Judah'' already has?
- 📝 Summa question on his quotation of scripture
- 📝 Does any Christian denomination teach Genesis 3 as a description of human evolution from animals?
Source: stackoverflow.com
Search Posts
Related post
- 📝 What is known about the Apostle Paul's family?
- 📝 What is known (and/or alleged) about the moral character of the 12 disciples?
- 📝 What would the Jews of Jesus' time have known about heaven?
- 📝 What does the bible say about h*m*sexuality?
- 📝 What is significant about the torn curtain? What about Jesus' death impressed the centurion at the cross?
- 📝 What was it about the death of Jesus that allows God to forgive us?
- 📝 What does the bible say about interracial marriages?
- 📝 What does the Bible say about Capital Punishment?
- 📝 What does the Bible say about tithing?
- 📝 What does the Bible say about Science?
- 📝 What does the Bible say about "bad" words?
- 📝 What does the Catholic church teach about fate of non-Catholic christians?
- 📝 What does the Roman Catholic church teach about those who die having never heard of Christ?
- 📝 What does the LDS Church (Mormon) teach about marriage and polygamy in the afterlife?
- 📝 What has the LDS Church (Mormons) historically taught about the Curse of Cain and dark skin?
- 📝 When talking about the Trinity, what does "persons" mean?
- 📝 What evidence is there that the Apostle Paul had been a member of the Sanhedrin?
- 📝 What is the evidence that suggests that the Apostle Paul was married?
- 📝 What is the Protestant belief known as "faith alone"?
- 📝 What is the earliest known instance of a petition directed to Mary?
- 📝 What should a Catholic Religious Ed. class be taught about the Reformation?
- 📝 What evidence do we have today about Christian groups not represented at the first four ecumenical councils?
- 📝 What did Jonathan Edwards have to say about the fact that he owned slaves?
- 📝 God created male and female.... What about those who do not fit in the box?
- 📝 What doctrine does Family Radio have of the End of the World?
- 📝 What does the Bible say about life before conception?
- 📝 What is the basis of the LDS (Mormon) belief that the Apostle John never died?
- 📝 What is the basis for the claim that Ezekiel 44 is about Mary the Mother of Jesus?
- 📝 What is the source of the story about the melted gold in the destroyed temple in 70 AD?
- 📝 Does the Bible say anything about what demons *are*?
